Handbook for Process Safety in Laboratories and Pilot Plants

7 Process Safety Competency and Training in the LAPP

7.1 RBPS Element 3: Process Safety Competency

Process Safety Competency (Element 3), Workforce Involvement (Element 4), and Training and Performance Assurance (Element 12) are linked elements—all three influence process safety culture. Management should understand what competencies are needed to identify hazards and manage risks, and should ensure that personnel with those competencies are available.

The competency element focuses on identifying the required LAPP competencies and implementing methods to develop, maintain, and improve those competencies. One structured management approach is the Plan, Do, Check, and Act (PDCA) process. A PDCA is as defined as follows:

• Plan—Identify process safety competencies across functions and at all levels starting with fundamental knowledge required by all and specialized knowledge required by subject matter experts. Develop improvement plans.
• Do—Support learning efforts of personnel and document learnings as appropriate. Maintain knowledge to be easily accessible to people who need it to fulfill their process safety responsibilities and promote risk informed decision making and consistent application of the knowledge gained.
• Check—Assess on a regular frequency the effectiveness of the “do” step
• Act—Identify and set priorities for improvement opportunities.

7.1.1 Process Safety Competency Needs

Process safety competencies are required across technical functions in order to manage risks ...